Best-selling author Catherine DeVrye develops ideas, delights audiences and delivers results.
Combining Gen Y energy with baby boomer experience and wisdom, Catherine has the 'street cred' to deliver the results you want at your next conference.
Always customised to your theme - Catherine's down to earth and delightfully humorous style is thought provoking yet practical and her content has earned repeat bookings on five continents.
Current experience:
Twice voted Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year, and named by the Financial Review in 2016 as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence, Catherine is an entertaining communicator with proven international management experience in the private and public sectors - as both a female corporate executive and small business owner. She now speaks globally on customer service, disruption and resilience to boost both the bottom line and team morale in times of change.
Previous experience:
Author: Catherine is the past winner of the Australian Executive Woman of the Year Award and best-selling author of eight books translated into over a dozen languages. Her memoir, ‘Who Says I Can't?’ (Random House) was nominated for the National Biography Award. Others include ‘Good Service is Good Business’ which was a #1 best-seller in Australia and Taiwan; plus ‘Hot Lemon and Honey: Reflections For Success in Times of Change’- ‘Hope Happens! Words of Wisdom for Tough Times’- Paperclips Don't Grow on Trees: Add value not cost to your bottom line’-and her new release ‘The Gift of Nature: Inspiring hope and resilience’
Corporate
A former IBM executive, Catherine held roles in sales, marketing, communication and leadership development, spending 2 years in Tokyo as Asia Pacific HQ HR Manager. Once responsible for IBM incentive events and leadership programs, she vowed to not only deliver an entertaining, educational and motivational message from stage but to be authentic and easy to work with off stage. Thousands of testimonials from delighted clients prove that.
Adventure
A multi-faceted presenter, always in search of adventure and new material, she has cycled over the Andes, trekked to Timbuktu, beyond Everest Base Camp, swam from Europe to Asia and was given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch on the day of the opening ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. A cancer survivor and active surf life saver, she also has an inspirational, heart-warming story of her personal journey from an orphanage in Canada, which she sometimes shares depending on your brief.
Appointments
Catherine is also an Australia Day ambassador, featured in Who's Who of Australian Women, a former board member of the third largest police service in the world, past CEO of Young Achievement Australia, as well as working for Ministers of Consumer Affairs, Education and Sport, where she was involved in the establishment of the Life: Be In It fitness campaign.
Education
She holds a Master of Science degree and has attended short courses at Harvard University and Melbourne Mt Eliza Business School... but believes the best education is common sense! She touches the head and heart with a holistic approach to encourage action and better 'buy-in' to key management messages in times of disruption.
Clients
Clients include American Express, Australian Tourism, ANZ Bank, Austrade, BBC, Coca-Cola, Domino’s Pizza, KPMG, Hewlett Packard, IBM, 3M, Local Government, Mercedes, Neways, Qantas, Red Cross, Remax, Rolls-Royce, Royal Australian Airforce, TAFE, World Triathlon Championships...
Her versatility, diversity of experience and commitment to quality will act as a catalyst to maximise organisational and individual potential, and contribute to the success of your next event.
Real content, real fun, real life!
Video
Catherine DeVrye
Best-selling author Catherine DeVrye develops ideas, delights audiences and delivers results. Combining Gen Y energy with baby boomer experience and wisdom, Catherine has the 'street cred' to deliver the results you want at your next conference.‘A big thank you for adding value to conference-not only for the content but also your entertaining delivery that kept everyone fully engaged. Our partners are fully motivated with new skill ... keep reading ROLLS-ROYCE
‘The definition of a first rate speaker is one who is easy to listen to, witty, and very wise. You not only kept the audience riveted - but at the right time wonderfully amused.
‘Thank you for the tremendous contribution to our business and the participative culture we have developed. Part of our success is due to your involvement and I am most grateful.’
Captivated entire audience until the very end…remarkable presenter who reinforced our key messages and delivers beyond the expected. Professional yet relaxed style. Excellent entertainer and also touches people’s hearts!
‘Participants enjoyed the session. But, even better, they felt what they learned would be useful in their own job situations.’
‘Dynamic presentation-content, style & enthusiasm were wonderfully in keeping with our philosophy and mission statement.'
‘Feedback from customers was great - they all got a lot out of your talk.’
‘Just wanted to drop you a note to gloat about how amazing Catherine was. Feedback has been outstanding, with our finance director saying she’s the best speaker we have ever had globally!!’
‘Stunning contribution! I can’t thank you enough for exceeding all the expectations that we could have dreamed for. My team was stunned by the way you took them on a journey unlike any other.’
‘Came top in evaluations…best thing since sliced bread…had audience in the palm of her hand…great message, a joy to work with and wonderfully normal.’
Thought-provoking. You captured the minds of our senior executives and forced them to ponder the meaning of a customer service culture. Your drive for exceeding expectations was well and truly met when you then also filled in for a presenter who was running late.
‘Spoke to a mixed audience ranging from junior staff to senior executives...all walked away inspired. We will work together again.’
‘Delivered more than I anticipated-an action packed presentation that had the audience in fits of laughter….and also managed to deliver a business message on change with real life examples.’
’Presentation on hope & resilience in leadership, provided a personal story with lashings of good humour & helped set the tone for the conference.’
‘Received a well earned standing ovation from the 1,000+ audience…made my job easier.’
‘Excellent...it was obvious she had researched our company...would use again.’
‘Our investment in having you speak was money well spent-most favourable audience response from any speaker in the history of the event.’
‘Entertaining and pertinent...you certainly gave us insights and tips for our strategy.’
‘Thank you for playing an important role in this year’s direction…fantastic presentation & I received positive comments all night about the relevance & inspiration you gave so many people in the room.’
‘Exciting-not only informative, but real value which can be easily applied at work.’
‘You gave our partner's conference a flying start and our client service objectives a great boost. Thanks also for autographing the books, as a handy reminder.’
‘Response from my team has been overwhelming. The many commonsense messages and ideas you delivered on teamwork, service and personal attitude really struck a chord with all.’
‘Ideal opening speaker’-delivering with warmth, humour and relating to personal experiences.’
‘…spoke to a team who had just seen the company downsized. Her research insured the message was targeted and in context. 12 months later the team still quote her.’
I didn't realise learning could be so much fun. Best presentation I've ever seen at IBM
‘Great entertainer as well as educator-worked well with audience.’
‘Merci beaucoups. You were a resounding success. Brilliant! You knocked it out of ballpark and I just tweeted as much…She was just fabulous on campus and impressed our international executives.’
'Amazing presentation! Your messages really hit their target.'
‘I cannot thank you enough. Your message was engaging, fun, light and right in line with what I was looking for. Feedback was more positive than I could have even imagined.’
‘Thank you for your talk on achievement strategies for success…This is the first time KPMG Malaysia or Singapore has ever given a standing ovation to any speaker since our inception in 1970’s.’
‘Your willingness to share your experiences and insights is highly appreciated. Thank you for bringing inspiration to the Kingdom of Bahrain.’
‘We had such a great response to the breakfast, the accolades continue from customers in the form of additional orders-which is terrific. We experienced record months.'
‘Feedback from advisers in the field has been nothing short of remarkable-your motivational session left many re-thinking the way they add value & provide service.’
‘Feedback from our staff has been excellent and beyond our expectations. Your session inspired many and this was evident in the comments we received in the evaluation forms.’
‘We had an all time record year and I’m confident you contributed to this.’
‘You were able to motivate managers to achieve the best for themselves-and for us’
‘Great feedback as usual -it’s a relief to know your presentations are always so well received.’
‘Catherine knocked it out of the park - the delegates loved her! She set the tone really well for the conference and had our audience buzzing.’
‘Felt such energy after your session, I've already put some ideas into practice.’
‘First time in 10 years that anyone received a standing ovation. Your plain speaking &terrific sense of humour was appreciated by a country crowd that can see through non genuine people.'
‘Great person to have as a last speaker-gave delegates the gift of high spirits to leave the conference.’
‘Excellent...even the cynics thought she was terrific!’
‘It is indeed rare to find a guest speaker so "in tune" with our philosophies. It was an absolute joy to have a speaker of your calibre upholding our core beliefs.’
‘Thank you for doing such a good job and making me look good.’
‘Your lecture was so inspiring that even now my students keep telling me about it.’
‘I doubt that we could have progressed as far as we have, or as quickly, without your involvement.’
‘Thank you for a fantastic presentation. You were spot on the brief and captivated the audience (who had already sat through 2.5 hours) so you are truly amazing!’
The audience truly appreciated your delivery and message. Thanks for hitting the ball out of the park.
‘A meaningful and memorable session-much positive feedback-motivational & inspirational-genuine interaction -positive attitude and energy-humorous and easy to follow’
‘Your inspiring address, finely honed for our profession, was the best opening keynote we could have had...highest rated session of entire conference.’
‘The standing ovation at the end summed it up! Hip, hip hooray’ We’ll see you in India again.’
‘Motivational, uplifting and fun!-couldn’t have had a more inspiring keynote speaker!’
‘You sowed the seed of change... The quality program developed from these beginnings will result in a 40-50% improvement in productivity.’
